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{review: made from earth}

Monday, November 8, 2010

Here at Chic & Green, we spend a great deal of time discussing skin care products. You know I've had my own line, worked for other lines in the past, and have tried literally hundreds of other lines over the years through my own shopping or through having my blog. I've found lines of facial skin care I love and tried complete duds and/or rip offs (one of which I'll be telling you about later this week).

When a skin care product comes across my desk, the first thing I do is read the literature from the company and then look at the ingredients. That night, I start with the new products and then test them out. It is horrible if the line is bad because it shows in my skin. It's wonderful when the line is good, as has happened in the recent past.

I've been happy with the products I have been using and almost didn't want to try another line. I was sent some products from an eco-friendly, natural company called Made From Earth. I'm going to tell you my thoughts on the line and each product I tried.

Products Tried:

Green Tea Toxin Cleanser--This milky cleanser has a beautiful consistency. I used to be a bar cleanser girl. I also liked gel cleansers. Now I just adore milky cleansers as I get older and my skin is dryer. This really has a beautiful feel to it. The first three ingredients are aloe vera, green tea, and milk. It is about as wholesome as cleansers come and it is oh so gentle on my skin. I like this. A lot. It can be used as both a mask and a cleanser. They recommend applying to the skin and letting it absorb for three minutes as a mask. The soothing effects of the green tea are really apparent. This is a top notch product. As a basic cleanser, you can use it as normal and massage in. It removes makeup without stinging.

Grapefruit Glycolic Scrub--This is another lovely formulation. It isn't a traditional jar scrub, but a liquid scrub in a bottle with jojoba beads for cleansing. it is uber gentle, but very effective. It is chock full of nutrients, from aloe to grapefruit to rosehip and calendula. It has a very light, spa-like aroma and feels gentle going on the skin. I like the jojoba beads as the method of manual exfoliation because they don't scratch the skin. There is also black willow bark, which is a natural form of salicylic acid. I like salicylic acid for deeper exfoliation because it is oil soluble. This means that it can penetrate into the pores and help remove debris, oils, blackheads, etc.This is to be used 2 to 3 times weekly. I really like it! My skin feels fresh and glowy after using.

The only drawback for me is the fact that it contains Kojic Acid. While that's not necessarily a negative, it irritates my skin. It is natural--derived from a mushroom--but it's just one of those things that Chic & Green is sensitive to. This is used to lighten freckles and brown spots and is a natural whitener.

Vitamin Enriched Face Firming Serum--Another lovely product. Serums are tricky. While my favorite serum has been Burt's Bees Naturally Ageless Serum, it retails for $25 for only a 0.45 ounce bottle (although I often have luck getting it for much less on eBay). It also is one I only use at night because it doesn't really absorb well enough for me to use under makeup.

Made From Earth's serum contains carrot oil, milk, niacinamide, DMAE, and CoQ-10. This is packed with anti-aging botanicals and really makes your skin feel good. It is not an oily serum at all. It is like a light gel. I have been applying it morning and night. I let it sink in for about 10 minutes before applying my mineral makeup.

Lip Balm--I was sent three tubes of lip balm: Vanilla, Blueberry, and Citrus Fresh. I tried the first two. I just am not in love with citrus lip balms so I am saving it to use as part of a giveaway for December. The Vanilla and Blueberry are just lovely. I especially love the vanilla. It isn't greasy, but it nourishes my lips all night. The blueberry had a bit of a strong flavor--much like blueberry pancakes. That's not a bad thing. I am just a vanilla girl when it comes to lip balm, I suppose. I am a bit confused by the pricing, though. The vanilla is $2.50. The blueberry is $4.99. Some tubes are $3.99. I'd happily pay the $2.50 for their lip balm, but not more since you can find great balms for the same price for less on Etsy.

This is a good basic lip balm. It's not the best I have ever tried, but I do like it.

Product Grade: B+

The C & G Bottom Line:

First of all, this line isn't necessarily a budget-friendly line. Know that right off the bat. I am a bargain hunter. I like good products. Good products do not have to cost an arm and a leg, though. The prices of this aren't obscene like many products I tried. They aren't necessarily a bargain either. If you're one to splurge on department store items, I want you to try this line.I am quite sure you'll like it as much as I do. The ingredients in Made From Earth products are stellar and the packaging is gift-worthy. I can recommend this line to you with confidence.

Disclosure: I received these products for review at no cost. This in no way has influenced by review and all opinions are my own.

Disclosure

This blog contains affiliate links. I am a member of the Amazon Influencer program, Share a Sale, and Pepperjam. I occasionally post links via these affiliate programs to products I like. If you should make a purchase after following the link, I earn a commission.